I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I haven’t been blogging for a few weeks.  I let the habit fall off the table as the busy-ness of life took me over.  I thought it was a good idea to set writing aside and try to pay more attention to my family, work and other pursuits.

Truth is, I don’t know if it helped.  I’ve discovered that I pay more attention to the present when I’m writing.  Even when I’m distracted crafting a post in my mind, I notice more details, reflect, and appreciate the seemingly mundane events.  And when I read reflections of other bloggers, I feel like I’ve opened a little gift for the day.  I feel more connected.  I learn so much from you.  I feel like someone other there gets me and my little place in the world. 

These few weeks have been a blur, and I don’t have much record of where it went.  I’m not sure I was a more attentive parent or wife.  I’d rather have a few posts, some words of wisdom from other writers, or a comment or two from you to reflect upon those little moments.

So today, I’m just grateful that I’ve rediscovered what draws me to writing and this strange community of the blogosphere.  There is value in this virtual yet intimate exchange. 

I haven’t figured out the balance (do we ever?).  But I’m back, ready to jump in again.  

Let’s talk.

Posted at Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.

photo credit: Capture Queen ™

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 Lately I’ve been feeling a bit stressed, but it doesn’t make much sense.

We still have a few more weeks of summer.  (I know, many of you are starting school already, but while you were jumping in the pool we had school until mid-June, so no complaining).  My kids are at wonderful ages of gaining independence, which makes life so much easier than before.  I’m doing some part-time  work and enjoying it.  But, like so many moms, I’m feeling pulled in too many different directions.

I realized some of my anxiety was about my personal commitment to write here multiple times per week.  None of you are nagging me, but there’s this voice in my head constantly telling me I have got to put up some profound, insightful posts or all of you will run away and my site will collapse into a black hole.  And I’m sure you all know that fear of imminent black hole collapse, combined with guilt about a wreck of a house, family who needs love and attention, actual paid work that needs to get done, other writing commitments, and oh-my-gosh-summer-is-almost-over-we-must-create-some-fun-memories-now doesn’t make for great creative writing.  Or maybe it does, but it’s not working for me right now. 

I want my words to be fresh and interesting, not just space fillers.  I want to write through inspiration, not obligation.  And I want to reflect a life of appreciated moments, not put off those moments to slap up a post. 

So, as we prepare for one more road trip next week, I’m going to take that pressure to create profoundness off the table.  I might post a few golden not-so-oldies, I might write when I’m inspired, but you might see fewer posts for a few weeks. 

I hope that’s okay with you–it might even be a relief.   Just tell me you won’t disappear into a black hole, okay? 

And if you have any summer left, please enjoy it and appreciate the moments with me. 

Today I join a new venture with hopeful expectation. 

It begins with sad news:  our local paper, the Ann Arbor News, printed its very last edition this week after 174 years.   It was a pretty good paper, made by some really great people, that fell victim to the double whammy of the struggling newspaper industry in a dismal economy.  I felt a lump in my throat when I saw Thursday’s headline: 

–FINAL EDITION–

Farewell, Ann Arbor

It felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.  Many are mourning the loss from so many different angles. 

Fortunately, I’ll also be saying hello to some creative new friends. 

A new venture launches today called AnnArbor.com:  a digital media service with two print editions per week that will include traditional news, bloggers, and ”hyper-local” journalism shaped by the community.  I’m not quite sure what all that means yet, but I’m thrilled to serve on the Parenting team with some other cool folks and share my random thoughts a couple of times per week. 

So please, visit me at my new gig and say hello.  I’m a little nervous about my first day on the job.

1)  I’m thrilled to be joining the Parenting team for a new venture called AnnArbor.com.  Our traditional home town paper is closing, and the void is being filled by a web/paper combination that will include professional news reporting, micro-community journalism, and input from bloggers with a variety of passions.  When the site launches on July 20, I’ll be posting a few columns per week on AnnArbor.com.  I’m excited — it promises to be something fresh and different.  

2)  My thirteen year old has been busy preparing for his October trip to Japan.  He won the prize this week for the “most adventurous tasting” at the sushi feast.   Hmm.  .  . should I be proud?

3)  I learned to make paper cranes and got a little geeked about origami folding.  What a pleasure to dive back into those hands-on preschool skills once in awhile.

4)  My eleven year old told me to “drive like a wild woman” so he wouldn’t be late to swim practice yesterday.  He has no idea what he’s asking.

5)  I must say the summertime weather in Michigan is just delightful.  We’ve had 70-80 degree sunny weather this week.  Can’t be beat.

6)  I’ve been ruminating on Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World:  A Geography of Faith.  She takes everyday tasks and lifts them up with faith-filled reverence, such as:

• the practice of paying attention
• the practice of wearing skin
• the practice of encountering others
• the practice of pronouncing blessings

It’s helped me connect with the nebulous concept of “being present.”  Highly recommended.

7)  I’ll finish with a question for you.   What books have you enjoyed this summer?    I don’t mind if it’s inspirational or good summer garbage, I just think it’s fun to share what everyone thinks is a good read. 

So now, I’m off.

You too–seize the day!

Quick detour:  No, we don’t keep every paper my kids bring home!  I ask my kids to make three piles:  1)  really important stuff that must be kept  2)  nice stuff to examine but pitch afterwards 3)  junk that can be recycled right away.   They practice good judgment skills through this process and become surprisingly skilled at sorting.  We work through the piles, ask a few questions and recycle without guilt.  If the ‘really important’ pile is too big, that’s fine, but I might check again in a week or so. 

Anyway, I came across a spiral writing notebook in which my daughter had exchanged letters with her teacher.  They had developed a lovely correspondence and learned a lot about one another.  I was almost jealous of the mature give-and-take relationship they had, more like a friendship.  What a concept! 

It occurred to me that much of our daily dialogue revolves around giving orders direction, tons of negotiating (which exhausts me), the daily snuggle and much-too-rare intimate conversation.  There isn’t as much “what do you think of this?” dialogue as I would like to admit. 

So I decided to write my daughter a letter.   I proposed that we extend the journal through the summer.

She loves it.  In the journal she has my full attention and gets to talk about issues important to her (such as whether eels are slimy or not — who knew?).   We get to ask each other questions and take time to respond thoughtfully.  There’s no putting off incessant banter until later.  It’s an equal give and take, in our own quiet time. 

And the added bonus:  writing (or drawing) practice — in the summer!  It works for me. 

Doing this, I remembered my own mother going on a teacher exchange to England for three whole weeks when I was in junior high.  I’d never been away from her that long, and decided to journal all of the important things I didn’t want to forget to discuss with her.  Writing to a real person helped me keep it going, and I still treasure how it built the friendship between us.  Maybe this little exercise will help maintain the mother/daughter bonds for those fragile adolescent times to come.

Check out We are THAT family for more great ideas.

photo credit: eeekays photography

I’ve just spent the most lovely evenings reading Cindy LaFerle’s collection of essays, Writing Home.

After reading Writing Home, I’d love to have coffee with Cindy LaFerle.  This award-winning journalist reminisces about life, love and laughter and offers the rich perspective of a mom who has navigated career and family from diapers through young adulthood.  She’s smart, sensible and a little bit sassy–some of the best qualities in a friend, I’d say, as I laugh and cry through her stories.

Writing Home represents 12 years of Cindy’s award-winning columns and inspirational essays, celebrating her favorite themes:  the challenges of parenthood, living creatively, aging gracefully, and reinventing family traditions.  The pieces were originally published in literary gems including the Detroit Free Press, Reader’s Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.  Writing Home has earned multiple awards, including a Merit Award from the prestigious Midwest Book Awards, Writer’s Digest,  and ”Book of the Year” from Think Club Publications.

Most of all, Writing Home makes me feel like I have a friend who understands.  And just to show how wonderful she is, Cindy donates a portion of all proceeds to homeless shelters in Oakland County, Michigan. 

Would you like to read it?  Well, my friend, I have a signed copy waiting for one lucky reader.  Just leave a comment below, and I’ll select a random number and ship it to your home.  I’ll leave comments open through May 31. 

For more of Cindy’s wisdom, visit Cindy La Ferle’s Home Office, and always be sure to check out We Are THAT Family Works for Me Wednesday wisdom.

It’s a good question.  When people ask me what I’ve been up to, It’s difficult to explain why I spend hours every week surfing the blogosphere, dodging my family, gathering ideas, crafting these posts, hitting that “publish” button and wondering what might happen.  I have to admit — it’s a little weird. 

My gut answer is that I feel strangely drawn, perhaps called, to do this.  It’s sort of a mystery to me.  I feel like I’m wandering down a dimly lit path with a tiny flashlight at my feet.  I’m not sure where it’s leading, but I know I need to keep working my way down the path.

I started get myself into the writing habit.  I’ve been told writing a book is the best way to boost my parenting/speaking business, but I wasn’t sure how to begin.  My journal-writing discipline stinks, but I’m addicted to email, so I knew an online blog would keep me going.  With real people reading, I feel more accountable, and the feedback keeps me going.  It’s a personal challenge for me.

I’ve discovered that the blogging world is so much more.  I’ve discovered an amazing, supportive community containing all the positive elements of the internet.  The blogging community connects people, such as isolated moms, through shared experience.  I’ve laughed, cried, learned new things and made real friends I can’t wait to meet in person.  I’ve been inspired by so many with awesome faith.  I’ve found people who understand me, as well as people who challenge my views, and I look forward to what they write next. 

It’s also changed how I perceive the world.  I notice more details in my own life.  I try to capture the moment and look for everyday lessons.  I laugh more at the little things.  I will admit the draw to the laptop can be distracting– I’m working on that– but on the balance, I’m more tuned into the here and now.

So why did I begin?  I started to develop my writing, to challenge myself, and to connect with people beyond my neighborhood.   Why do I continue?  Because the community I’ve discovered helps me grow into a better person. 

And that book?  Sure, I’ll get that started sometime.  But right now I’m having too much fun blogging.

photo credit: ~Aphrodite